Search Comedians

Advanced Search

General

Comic Status

Comic Type

Actor

Character

Clean comic

Conversational

Dirty comic

Impressionist

Improviser

Musical

Old-school stand-up

One Liners

Regular MC

Sketch group

Surreal

Topical/political

Variety act

Richard Ayoade

The Cambridge-educated son of a Nigerian father and Swedish mother, Richard Ayoade first came to prominence starring in and co-writing the 2000 Edinburgh Fringe show Garth Merenghi's Fright Knight with Matthew Holness, winning the Perrier Award for its sequel, Garth Merenghi's Netherhead, the following year. The show transferred to Channel Four in 2004 as Garth Merenghi's Darkplace, before spawning the spin-off 80s chat show spoof, Man to Man with Dean Learner, fronted by Ayoade's 'smut-peddler' character.

Appearances in The Mighty Boosh and Nathan Barley were followed by his highest profile role to date in Graham Linehan's sitcom The IT Crowd, playing socially inept tech support worker Moss, a role he reprised for an unaired US adaptation in 2009.

Establishing a parallel career as a music video director for the likes of The Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian and The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, he directed his first film, the coming-of-age comedy-drama Submarine in 2010, and his second, The Double, a nightmarish, dystopian comedy-drama, loosely based on Fyodor Dostoevsky's novella, in 2014.

Reviews

Submarine

If you only know Richard Ayoade as the nutty, uber-geeky, perennial man-child Moss from the IT Crowd, his directorial debut will come as a surprise… but a most welcome one.

Submarine is a low-key coming-of-age comedy-drama set in Eighties retrospect against the grimly melancholic pallor of an anonymous industrial South Wales town. Battle: Los Angeles, it ain’t. What it is, however, is a beautifully observed, quirkily funny and touchingly sweet reminiscence about the awkwardness of first love.

Ayoade has previously cut his directorial teeth with music videos, and the self-centred sensibilities of heartfelt indie-band introspection are writ large here, bolstered by the languorous soundtrack created by Alex Turner from the Arctic Monkeys.

It captures beautifully the oxymoronic adolescent jumble of bleak know-it-all certainties and crippling insecurities rattling around the head of central character, Oliver Tate. A social outsider, he imagines himself dead, but only to fantasise about how crippled by grief his desolate schoolmates would be. In truth, he is so detached that he has few friends – a solitary submarine, cruising unnoticed beneath everyone else’s gaze is the titular metaphor – so becomes a reluctant bully in an attempt to fit in and impress the aloof Jordana Bevan.

They do, indeed, form a suitably uncomfortable relationship; Oliver seeing it unfold through the lens of the imaginary film crew recording his life – an idea used sparingly, but just enough for some wry in-jokes from Ayoade. And if you are going to have your life on film, this offbeat comedian is the man to do it. He, and cinematographer Erik Wilson, can make a chemical plant look romantic; while motifs such as Jordan’s red coat – surely a cinematic homage - put a strong visual stamp on proceedings.

At home, things are no better for Oliver, as his drab parents, Jill and Lloyd, a former Open University lecturer, limp through a repressed, lifeless marriage until their predictable routine becomes threatened by the arrival of one of Jill’s old flames, the appallingly self-important lifestyle coach – and wannabe ninja – Graham. Such characters – and a few set-pieces such as an attempted pet poisoning – are the stuff of sitcom, but Ayoade depicts them all with such subdued realism, it ensures this is a sweet comedy of gauche behaviour, not broad slapstick.

Paddy Considine plays the preposterous Graham with perfect comic pitch and hilarious mullet, but it is the younger stars who undoubtedly carry this impeccably observed film. As Oliver, Craig Roberts is emotionally vacant, yet somehow compelling, while as the unromantic, borderline-pyromaniac teenage femme fatale Jordana, Yasmin Paige is a revelation.

The quirks of the characters, the knowing, unsentimental direction and – most of all, the warm charm that pervades every scene means that Submarine certainly reaches hidden depths. Especially for those who remember the crippling social discomfort of adolescence – rather than those still suffering it.\r\n

Comments

Older Comments

Darren - 15/03/2010

What a terrible waste of a cult talent, to Ayoade I say this: Stop denying us, get out of your director's chair, drop your clapper board and do a national tour! You're as big as Fielding

Darren - 17/01/2009

The Sidney Poitier of British comedy!

Alex - 06/10/2008

As a stand-up comedian Richard shows great potential with a set on McDonald's and it's effects on children, although a routine that is drifting slowly towards a Morgan Spurlock message he manages to turn that around.

Dr Walpurgis - 23/03/2008

Probably the best new comedy character actor in the UK.

Monique - 04/01/2008

Richard Ayoade is a total legend! Im loving all his work, especially Darkplace - cant get enough of it

georgia - 10/10/2007

I love The IT crowd ! he is a very talented actor. Moss is the best character ever. I love how uncomfortable he is around everything, especially bras

Emma - 16/10/2006

I love Richard Ayoade, I'm about to queue for hours upon hours in London to meet the delightful chap. He is pure comedy gold

Emma - 30/04/2006

Sheeer class. Can't stop watching the IT Crowd

Michael - 12/04/2006

Too funny. Absolutely quality. Everything about Darkplace is pure genius, especially the directing. IT Crowd isn't really my thing, but the in eps I have seen - Moss has been funniest.

Sara - 19/03/2006

Amazing, absolutely amazing! There's no one else as funny as Richard, there really isn't.

Frances - 18/03/2006

Tim Smith - 05/03/2006

Both Nathan Barley and IT Crowd, its Marmite TV, you either love it or hate it. I thought it was class and has provided a wealth of funny lines. And this guy was very very good! Keep it Foolish...

Morag - 05/03/2006

He has got the best comedy voice in the world. Everything he does just cracks me up. especially when he moves around like a Thunderbird on acid.

Aofie - 24/02/2006

Richard is one of the funniest actors I have seen. His expressions and mannerisms are hilarious. I think he is brilliant and I hope we see much more of him in future

Jemima - 20/02/2006

Such a funny man. Love him to bits. Very clever comedian. He is a genius.

Rob - 10/02/2006

Just loved him as 'Ned' in Nathan Barley. "What are you doing Ashcroft?...you're going down!"

Highness - 06/02/2006

Same character all the time - what's so talented about that?

Ant - 05/02/2006

Best character in the IT Crowd.

Gail - 05/02/2006

Richard is just one of those people who makes you laugh just thinking about him. Thats a very special gift.

Raymond Hagerman - 30/01/2006

Hilarious impersonation of someone in sixth form half-arsedly reading from an off-screen cue card in The IT Crowd. Hold on a minute...

Adam - 24/01/2006

Absolute comedy genius. If the general public has any sense he will be the next big thing to hit our TV screens.

Domovoi - 04/01/2006

Darkplace was genius and the movie and DVD will bring the recognition which Richard deserves

Lliam - 21/11/2005

Had the pleasure of seeing his brilliant character "Moss" in a taping of the IT Crowd - His timing is impeccable and his improvisations were hilarious.

Raymond Hagerman - 03/10/2005

Hilarious impersonation of someone in sixth form half-arsedly reading from an off-screen cue card in Nathan Barley.

David Broder - 03/08/2005

My favourite comedian by far - he is just amazing in Darkplace and Nathan Barley.

- 05/07/2005

Thornton Reed is one of greatest characters I have ever had the pleasure of encountering. Fucking genius.

Philip Downs - 27/06/2005

One of the funniest and most ridiculously talented people on TV - i almost soiled myself laughing at him in Darkplace. A true comedy genius.

Simon - 07/02/2005

Bloody legend. The best comedy actor of all time. Fact.

Michael - 24/01/2005

Thought he was ace in Darkplace and am really surprised hes not all over the TV. Especially when the putrid 'My Hero' still keeps going. Also thought he was hilarious in the end-of-2004 review that Armando Iannucci did. class.

John - 28/11/2004

I've seen lots of his stuff and it never fails to fill me with nausea

Ben - 13/03/2004

Something special. His writing and direction for Garth Marenghi's Darkplace is genius. His comic acting is also impeccable. This show will be legendary.

Phil Gevaux - 24/02/2004

He is fantastic in Garth Marenghi's Darkplace on C4.

Hamish - 19/02/2004

Darkworld is a great concept with no legs, but Ayoade will go on to much bigger and better things.

Sparkle - 30/01/2004

He was responsible for the only funny bits in Garth Marenghi's Darkplace

Rhona - 02/03/2003

Seen recently live and I went home crying.. with laughter. He stormed the gig

Gill - 22/09/2002

Richard had me laughing so much it hurt throughout his varied, observational act. I will definitely be looking out for him in the future. He WILL make it.

Barrel - 23/07/2002

He stands out in whatever he does. Just one of those guys who can make anything sound funny.

Jim - 28/04/2002

Thought he was wonderful in Garth Marenghi's Netherhead. Never mind stand-up, the boy should be acting.

ops - 30/11/-0001

Thought he was ace in Garth Marenghi Darkplace and even funnier in Nathan Barley.

Richard Ayoade Dates

Sorry. We have no listings of forthcoming performances by this comedian.